Chip dispenser



July 18, 1950 I B. D. SMITH CHIP DISPENSER Filed Dec. 28, 1944 JWw f ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1950 2,515,904 g 1 cine DISPENSER membersD'YSmitln Atlanta, Ga., assignor to a Nelson J. Jewett; ArlingtonCounty, Va. I Application atents 28, 1944, Serial No. 570,157

l 1 "5 claims.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing chips, and particularlyin games wherein counters of varying denominations and colors com; prisea stack foreach player, f v

In the prior art mechanicalineans have'been provided for ejectingpartially'from each stack a certain desirednumber of counters so thatthe banker might remove "counted stack flfrom the various compartments,however, such arrangements are vslow and tedious, and oneobie'ct of thisinventiontis toprovide a simple mechanism for depositing in front ofanyo'r, all players a complete stack of counter chips of varyingdenomination by a single movement oithefhand.

Even during the deal this action is so natural and quick that the playis hardlyinterrupted.

Another object of this invention is to furnish such a dispenser sosimplec and cheap that its cost is no more than that olfan ordinaryholding rack for chips. its preierredfiorm it it? would be madeoi twoplastic parts easily molded.

A single coilspring is added to these but isnot an essentiallpart. v 1'1 My invention is illustrated in the jacco npanying drawings in whichlike parts throughout. I

FigureIisa'pIanvieWL, Y V

Figure 2 is a vertical sectiontaken along the line 2-2 of Figure ls-howing the chip holders expanded for delivery of chips.

Figure 3 is a detail section with one of the arts raised above theposition shown in Figure '2.

Figure 4 is a detail section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1. c g rFigure 5 is a detail bottom plan view showing an auxiliary spring memberwith the parts somewhat enlarged in scale.

The chipdispenser asshowr in; Figure 1 comprises four compartmentsforchips'such a blue, red and two whitestacks. Arcuatewa'lls l0 confineloosely the stacked array, and near the bottom alongacommon horizontalplane are molded projecting lugs H and I2, which are spaced from thebottom ofthe containerja height corresponding to the thickness of thenumber of chips to be dispensed at each actuation. In the normal -moldedposition of the parts these lugs lie within the diameter ofthechips-and, asshown; between the roundededges oiEthe 1iifth and sixthchipas positioned in Figure-2.

To enclose the stacks of chips four pairs :of

arcua'te walls ID are shown, the walls .iofseach pair merging into a ribl3;the'inward edgsfof which ribs are free of each other and are groupedaround a central space. To hold the ribs l3 in letters refer to likeassembly the ribs l3 are joined at their upp r inner ends by a, platemember l4 forming arcuat'e flanges over the angle between the ribs, andwhich merge into the upper ends of the ribs at the point of junction ofthe arcuatewalls H11 To receive an actuatingfplunger l5,a centralopening I6 is formed in the plate l4 The ribs [3 areshown as fqrmedwithcam members H, which normally stand 1 within the central space in,position spaced apart less than the diameter of the opening it and lessthan the" diameter of theplunger. To coact with thefcams llthe plungeris formed with'a frusto conical camper;- tion It which normallystands'inthe position shown in Figure 3, with relation to the cams l1.To enable the suspension of the device with "its load of chips when theknob IQ of the plunger is grasped and lifted' 'the end of the plungershown asiQrmedWith'a' disk headZ ll desirably rounded or'beveled at thelower outer portion of its periphery. "The external diameter of 'thehead 20 is no larger than the diameter o'f the plunger l5 and hence willpass-freely through the opening 1 6, for assembly of the parts', and

the head 2o=w111 separate the ribs l3 and snap to position as shownin'Figure 3, p r t n, tacks ofthipsam placed' in each spacepartlysurrounded by the arcuate walls H), which stacks 'willbe supported bythe lugs II and I2; "The device carrying the chips mayth'en be placed onthe 'table before each person desiring chips and the plunger 15' pressedto the position of 'Fi'gureZ, thus spreadingtlie lower ends of the ribsI3 and arcuate wallsl'll with distortion" Of the Walls. 'Whi'i S0"s'piad the stacks of 'chips' are released by the 'lugs 'and fall tothetable. Pressure on the plunger being released the cam surfaces "and 20wi11"return 'the plunger to the position illustrated in Figure 3, and"the lifting of the device awayiromWhe deposited chi'ps" as indicated inFigure iwill assist the return to normal. Such 'return will cause thewedge shaped lugs II and l2 to'fdi'oe themselves' between twochips ineach stack and "res'uIt'in the lifting of the stacks away fron'i thedispensed chips, wher'i'thedevice is'lifted.

To'assist'theresilience of theflanges M in returningthe' ribs I 3 tonormallyparallehposition a spring may be provided. dorms- 'end -aresilient rectangle or springwire'il 'formed in"- tegrallyandhaving itsends flin'serted' iii-a recess 23 is shown. This spring member seatsbehind" shoulders 24 in the": ribs I 3 provided :as indicated clearly inFigure 2. The faces of these shoulders are desirably rounded as shown.

Formed as shown each side of the rectangle of the spring becomes anindividual spring resisting outward deformation.

In operation, in flexing outwardly n ninety degree radii, the lugs l2 donot in themselves tend to release a stack but the lugs II in outwardtravel enlarge the diametral opening sufficiently that",th e chips.:maydrop through to: the table top as-showln in 'Eigure 2. This flexing ismanually operated by the knob I9 which, upon being depressed, utilizesthe tapered cam pore tion I8 to thrust outwardly the cams ll integrallycast on the ribs l3. This action is accomplished naturally when: the.container. rests on the table top in front of a; playen"and':.-the:

knob I9 is forced downwardly,

When the knob is raisedto liftthe chip" container, then the cams I!immediately return: in.'

and: sixth. chip from: the bottom in the form shown, and.furthenliitinbrings the container clear of" the" fiyebottomchips. as illustrated inFigure- 4. This.actioniscommonto allcompartments: and twenty. desired:chips. of. varyingv I dewalls extending toward each other to providenomination may thus betdeposited'in frontofl'the requesting; player. It.is readily seen thatthe motion of-Jifting the: container by the knob,moving 1 it. in front of aplayer, lowering tothe. table p. a by"continued downpushionthe..knob dis.-

pensing, ofthe chips: is all a quick and-inatural 5 movements of thehand. the container is broughtback-by the banker. its natural condition;is with the -knob upland-za 'voidi space: below the chipsfrom the, lugsI; I. and t2 downwards Plastics have a; slight coldhow and lose. theiriifl'exibility under distortion, hence-the use of: the spring Eli-shown.enlarged .in-Fig-ure.5-.-. It holdsvth'e .bottomi portions ot the;device in. their inward positions. and? prevents.- the rupture-ct thetop flangesectiomby' any-accidental strain: Its-square 'It-isreadilyse'en that another number of com partmentsr'other than four: maybevdesigned aroundi the: centralknob witiioutdeparting" fromtheiscopesofimyinvention Minor" changesmay. be made? the: physicalembodiments of" the inventiorr' within the scope oh the appended claims:without departing; from the spirit ofthe inventiom I-clainr: l. ,Ima:chin dispenseroiri combination"? asplurality-pi wallsrs'tanding inmositlonsi radiating from a common: axis; their. inner edges spacedfi'om said: axis to provide? a central: passage; a common" frame membersecuredtto the'uppenen'ds ofisaidai walls and. formed. with a central:openiin'g" to -said passageyv the outer" edges! of" each" of saidwallsbifurcat'edeand each." branch thereof constituting. an:arcuaiiei'extension; arcuate eactensionsiofi adjacent walls at least 5partially errchip enclosing chambers; lugs projecting from said. wallsinto-said chambers at points spaced from the bottom of said chambers tosupport stacks of chips in said chambers; resilient plate means" unitingthe top ends of said radiating wallsn-and formed, with a central openingto said central space; and means reciprocable in said spaceengagingmeanson the inner. edges ofsaid radiating walls. to cause separation of thelug carrying. portions. of said wallsv and carried lugs to releasesai'd"stacks.;,. saidLl'ugs re-ent'ering said stacks. upon. release'of'said means to separate a predeterminedTnumber'of chips from each. stack.3.1m. a. dispenser in combination: side walls formedTto. looselyv guideand confine a stack of. chips; constricting. lugs. carried by said sidewallsfor normally choking the passage provided bysaidside wallsat'apredetermined height from its bottom; and means. operable.independently. ofLthe chipsior causing motion. of one.lugc'arryingportion. oiisaid'walls relative to. another thereof tocausaseparatio'n of said. lugs to per.- mit. .the.lcwermost1 chips. ofthe stack of chips to: drop to thexbottomiofl the. passage.

l. In a. dispenser... in. combination: side walls proyidi'nga chip.passage to loosely, guide andconfi ne a stack of chips.;,. passageconstricting. lugs. carriedby. saidlsidewall's at a predeterminedheight.from. the bottom of the passage, adapted'to alternately support chips.in the. passage. and. allow the chips. to.- drop. therein. upondistortion-.. of. said. side walls. with consequent separation of'thelugs and meansexterion ofthe side walls and acting independently of thechips tocause. S1lCh-diStOEtiOIlz of; the side walls.

5.. In a. chip. dispensen. in combination: a plw rality ofassembledicontainers for stacks of chips comprising arcuatesidewailsproviding chippassages. for. loosely confining. and guiding saidstacks.;. anoperating knob; sets. of passage constricting lugs carriedby said walls at a predetermined height. from.v the bottom of each. forchokingsaid passages; and'wedge. means operable by said knob for moving.at least. one of each set of lugs... to..cause.separation of the lugs.of each setto. permit; chips to pass between the sauna.

BLEANCHARD D. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are: of record" in the me.05-. thispatent;

STATES PATENTS Hunter. NOV; 18, 1947

